Machine for working shoe sole contours

ABSTRACT

Machine, adapted for working the sole contours of shoes of any size or number whatever, including a copying roller, disposed at the end of a rod, journalled hingedly to an arm, whilst over said rod slides a sleeve, connected to a movable carriage, sustained by a support, fixedly secured to the tool holding arm, the sleeve displacing on the rod via a worm gear, acting on the carriage, displacing it axially relative to its support, whilst the support arm of said rod is connected to an oscillating arm, sustained by specially provided levers, journalled into one upper cross beam of the machine, the same oscillating arm being balanced by a pair of big springs and may describe a linkage motion, delivered thereto by the particular rotation of an oblong box, driven by a roller, pressing on a portion of its inner wall, said roller being keyed on a helical gear, which is controlled by a worm gear, driven in turn by a self-braking motor via a belt, two presser means being connected to the aforesaid oscillating arm, which fasten the sole to be worked and the basic template, which imparts suitable displacements to the copying roller.

United States Patent [1 1 Bruggi MACHINE FOR WORKING SHOE SOLE CONTOURS[76] Inventor: Mario Bruggi, 114 C.so Turin,

Vigevano, Italy [22] Filed: Apr. 16, 1973 [21] Appl. No: 351,507

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 15, l972 Italy 23177/72 [52]US. Cl. 12/87 [51] Int. Cl A43d 7/00 [58] Field of Search 12/87, 86.5,85, 86, 86.6, 12/8665, 86.7

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,644,968 7/1953 Benedict etal 12/87 3.235894 2/l966 Dardig l2/87 Prinmry Examiner-Patrick D. LawsonAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker Mar. 26, 1974 [57] ABSTRACTMachine, adapted for working the sole contours of shoes of-any size ornumber whatever, including 2 copying roller, disposed at the end of arod, journalled hingedly to an arm, whilst over said rod slides asleeve, connected to a movable carriage, sustained by a support, fixedlysecured to the tool holding arm, the sleeve displacing on the rod via aworm gear, acting on the carriage, displacing it axially relative to itssupport, whilst the support arm of said rod is connected to anoscillating arm, sustained by specially provided levers, journalled intoone upper cross beam of the machine, the same oscillating arm beingbalanced by a pair of big springs and may describe a linkage motion,delivered thereto by the particular rotation of an oblong box, driven bya roller, pressing on a portion of its inner wall, said roller beingkeyed on a helical gear, which is controlled by a worm gear, driven inturn by a self-braking motor via a belt, two presser means beingconnected to the aforesaid oscillating arm, which fasten the sole to beworked and the basic tem plate, which imparts suitable displacements tothe copying roller.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEU R26 R74 SHEET 1 BF 2 MACHINE FORWORKING SHOE SOLE CONTOURS This invention relates to a machine for theshoe making industry, adapted to work the contours of shoe soles in thevarious size series by using one single template as a guide means forthe various tools applied to the machine itself.

As well known, in the shoe making industry there are used severalmachine-tools, each of which is particularly designed to carry outspecific works on the shoe soles or vamps.

It may be considered, however, in principle that the aforementionedmachines differ essentially as to the type of tool with which they areprovided, and which may be depending on the type of work to be carriedout a cutter, or an abrasive band, or a brush and so on.

The motion of said tool for the preparation of the soles in particularis transmitted to the support shaft of the tool itself by means of atemplate.

The aforesaid template, which is shaped like the sole on which adetermined treatment has to be performed, serves practically as a guidemeans for the displacements of the tool, by causing it to accomplishwelldefined cyclic motions. It is likewise well known that the shoesoles, and hence the shoes themselves are being made depending ondiversified dimensions, classified by means of a particular number. Fromthe foregoing it may be inferred that to work and to finish the sole ofeach shoe size or number, it is necessary to resort to a specialtemplate, just accomplished for a determined size or number of the shoesthemselves, exclusively. On the other hand, it is easy to understandthat the soles of the different sizes, superposed to each other,according to decreasing sizes, define with their contours a conicalsurface, with the apex disposed on the vertical, conducted from themiddle point of the soles themselves.

By taking the above fact into account, namely the proportionality of thesole dimensions for the different shoe sizes, the correspondingtemplates, adapted to ensure the subsequent works, are obtained startingfrom a basic template, reproduced in other sizes by means of apantograph.

It should be noted here, however, that the construction of the differenttemplates requires a considerable time waste, this being an importantwork which should be carried out with the utmost accuracy.

By the machine of this invention instead, thanks to the particulararrangements adopted it will suffice to dispose of one single template,corresponding to any size or number whatsoever of the sole of the shoetype to be accomplished. More accurately, the motion is in principletransmitted by the guide template to the tool through a frame slidingparallel to itself, along a rod, pivoted with one of its ends at fixedpoint and provided at the opposite end with a feeler of copying roller.

The aforementioned rod describes obviously a conical surface of constantgeometrical characteristics, its fulcrum pin (apex of the conicalsurface) being fixed and its directrix, consisting of the guide or basictemplate, remaining unchanged. There is instead proportionally avariation in the motion of an end of the frame, sliding with the otherend over said rod, acting as generatrix of the aforesaid conicalsurface. It is, therefore, apparent that as a function of thedisposition of an end of the frame, sliding along said rod, the otherend of the frame will describe a figure similar to that of the basictemplate, with dimensions proportional thereto.

Practically speaking, the machine according to the present invention isprovided with a suitably oscillating arm, to which there are connectedthe supports for the basic template and the sole to be finished.

At the end of said arm there is integral therewith a hinge, which isconnected on the same line with the middle point of the template andsole.

To the said hinge there is connected a rod, at the other end of whichthere is journalled by means of a hinge a copying roller, which may comein contact with the contour of the basic template.

Over said rod furthermore may slide a sleeve, which is connected viasuitable intermediate organs the tool holding arm, which duringoperation comes in contact with the contour of the sole to be finished.

The motion of the tool holding arm is, therefore, controlled by thecopying roller through the sleeve fitted over the rod. Depending on theposition of the sleeve relative to the end of the rod, the tool holdingarm will accomplish more or less amplified motions than thosetransmitted by the copying roller to the rod itself.

By said arrangement, by suitably varying the position of said sleeve itis possible to work soles of any size or number whatever by using onesingle template.

These and further characteristic features of a functional andconstructional nature of the machine of this invention, adapted to workthe contours of soles of any size or number whatever by means of onesingle basic template, could be better understood from the followingdetailed description, taken in conjunction with the various figures onthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the machine of this invention in front view; and

FIG. 2 represents the same machine as above, but in side view.

Referring now particularly to the numeral symbols of the various figureson the accompanying drawings, the machine according to this inventionconsists of a double frame, madeup of pairs of columns 46 and 46', 47and 47 suitably connected by cross beams.

To the upper cross beams of the columns 46, 46' there are journalled thelevers 33, which sustain an oscillating arm 32, balanced in its motionby the big springs 44 and 45.

The oscillation of said arm is controlled by a box 34, driven by therotation of a roller 35, maintained in contact with its inner wall.

The same box rests on two rollers 36, pushed against the wall thereof bya spring 37.

The roller 35 is keyed on a helical gear 39, which is controlled by theworm gear 40, being rotated by the self-braking motor 41 via the belt42.

The linear rotary motion of said box 34 serves to suitably adjust theforward motion of the sole onto the tool, depending on the radius ofcurvature of the contour portion of the sole in contact with the toolitself.

To the oscillating arm 32 there is fastened a group, consisting of thesole pressers 23 and 24, controlled by a pneumatic cylinder 25 and thebasic template I.

Said pressers clamp the sole 19 to be finished after prior centeringthereof by means of two centering devices, controlled by the pneumaticcylinder 22.

The variable angular speed rotary motion is transmitted by the box 34 tothe presser group and then to the sole 19 via the chains 43.

To the oscillating arm 32 there is further fastened the arm 11 which isprovided at its end with a hinge 10.

It should be noted here that said hinge is located on a line with themiddle points of the template 1 and the sole being worked.

To the aforesaid hinge there is journalled the rod 9 the other end ofwhich connects by a second hinge 13 to the pin of a copying roller 14.

Over the rod 9 may slide the sleeve 8, which is connected via two smallpins to a fork 7, integral with a carriage 3, provided with a suitablegraduated indicator.

Said carriage is sustained by the support 4, fixedly secured to the toolholding arm 5, and may displace axially to the support itself because ofthe action of a worm gear 48, rotating via the handwheel 2. The copyingroller 14 is in turn sustained by the arm 15, oscillating on the levers16 and 17, and is maintained in contact with the template 1 by the thethrust of a big spring 18.

The copying roller-tool holding arm group is brought close to and awayfrom the template 1 and the sole 19, respectively, by teh action of thetwo big springs 30.

Said big springs are fastened, on the lower portion, to two levers 27and 28, connected therebetween by a rod 29, said levers being controlledby a pneumatic cylinder 26.

From a functional standpoint, it should be pointed out that with thesole 19 in clamped condition, the centering devices 20 and 21 leave thesole itself and the pneumatic cylinder 26 releases the levers 27 and 28,permitting the big springs 30 to bring the copying roller 14 intocontact with the edge of the sole 19 to be finished.

The aforesaid tool, set in rotation by the motor 31, via the belt 49,may be replaced by a cutter, or an abrasive band or a brush, thespecific functions of the machine according to the present inventionbeing accordingly diversified.

From the foregoing and from perusal of the various figures on theaccompanying drawings, it becomes apparent that a greater functionalcharacter and more practical application are afforded by the machine ofthis invention for working soles of any size or number whatever.

Obviously, said machine for the shoe making industry has been formerlydescribed and represented by way of non-limiting embodiment example andin order to demonstrate the practical embodiment and general features ofthe present invention.

What I claim is:

1. Machine, adapted for working the sole contours of shoes of any sizeor number whatever, including a copying roller, disposed at the end of arod, journalled hingedly to an arm, whilst over said rod slides asleeve, connected to a movable carriage, sustained by a support, fixedlysecured to the tool holding arm, the sleeve displacing on the rod via aworm gear, acting on the carriage, displacing it axially relative to itssupport,

whilst the support arm of said rod is connected to an oscillating arm,sustained by specially provided levers, journalled into one upper crossbeam of the machine, the same oscillating arm being balanced by a pairof big springs and may describe a linkage motion, delivered thereto bythe particular rotation of an oblong box, driven by a roller, pressingon a portion of its inner wall, said roller being keyed on a helicalgear, which is controlled by a worm gear, driven in turn by aselfbraking motor via a belt, two presser means being connected to theaforesaid oscillating arm, which fasten the sole to be worked and thebasic template, which imparts suitable displacements to the copyingroller.

2. Machine as defined in claim 1, wherein there is provided a doubleframe, consisting of cross beams, whilst to two of said cross beams,placed on the upper part of the machine, there are journalled levers,which sustain an oscillating arm, balanced in its motion by two bigsprings, the oscillation of said arm being controlled by an oblong box,driven by the rotation of a roller, which presses on its inner wall,said box resting on two rollers, pushed against its outer wall by aspring.

3. Machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the said roller internal tothe box is keyed on a helical gear, which is controlled by a worm gear,driven via a belt by a self-braking motor.

4. Machine as defined in claim 1, wherein to the said oscillating armthere are fastened a group of pressers, for the clamping of the sole tobe finished and the basic template, said pressers clamping the soleafter its cen tering, which is performed by two centering devices,controlled by a pneumatic cylinder.

5. Machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the oscillating arm hasfastened thereto another arm, which is provided at its end with a hinge,lying over the same line with the middle points of the basic templateand sole to be finished, to said hinge being journalled a rod the otherend of which connects via a second hinge to the pin of a copying roller,over said rod a sleeve may slide, which is connected via two small pinsto a fork, integral with a carriage, provided with a suitable gradu atedindicator.

6. Machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the said carriage is sustainedby the support, fixedly secured to the tool holding arm, said carriagebeing capable of displacing axially relative to the support itself dueto the action of a worm gear, rotated via a handwheel, whilst theaforesaid copying roller is sustained by the arm, oscillating on twolevers, and is maintained in contact with the basic template of a bigspring.

7. Machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the copying roller-toolholding arm assembly is sustained and driven by two big springs, whichare fastened on the lower part to two levers, connected therebetween bya rod, which levers are controlled by pneumatic cylinder.

transmitted to said tool by a motor via a belt.

* t t t

1. Machine, adapted for working the sole contours of shoes of any sizeor number whatever, including a copying roller, disposed at the end of arod, journalled hingedly to an arm, whilst over said rod slides asleeve, connected to a movable carriage, sustained by a support, fixedlysecured to the tool holding arm, the sleeve displacing on the rod via aworm gear, acting on the carriage, displacing it axially relative to itssupport, whilst the support arm of said rod is connected to anoscillating arm, sustained by specially provided levers, journalled intoone upper cross beam of the machine, the same oscillating arm beingbalanced by a pair of big springs and may describe a linkage motion,delivered thereto by the particular rotation of an oblong box, driven bya roller, pressing on a portion of its inner wall, said roller beingkeyed on a helical gear, which is controlled by a worm gear, driven inturn by a self-braking motor via a belt, two presser means beingconnected to the aforesaid oscillating arm, which fasten the sole to beworked and the basic template, which imparts suitable displacements tothe copying roller.
 2. Machine as defined in claim 1, wherein there isprovided a double frame, consisting of cross beams, whilst to two ofsaid cross beams, placed on the upper part of the machiNe, there arejournalled levers, which sustain an oscillating arm, balanced in itsmotion by two big springs, the oscillation of said arm being controlledby an oblong box, driven by the rotation of a roller, which presses onits inner wall, said box resting on two rollers, pushed against itsouter wall by a spring.
 3. Machine as defined in claim 1, wherein thesaid roller internal to the box is keyed on a helical gear, which iscontrolled by a worm gear, driven via a belt by a self-braking motor. 4.Machine as defined in claim 1, wherein to the said oscillating arm thereare fastened a group of pressers, for the clamping of the sole to befinished and the basic template, said pressers clamping the sole afterits centering, which is performed by two centering devices, controlledby a pneumatic cylinder.
 5. Machine as defined in claim 1, wherein theoscillating arm has fastened thereto another arm, which is provided atits end with a hinge, lying over the same line with the middle points ofthe basic template and sole to be finished, to said hinge beingjournalled a rod the other end of which connects via a second hinge tothe pin of a copying roller, over said rod a sleeve may slide, which isconnected via two small pins to a fork, integral with a carriage,provided with a suitable graduated indicator.
 6. Machine as defined inclaim 1, wherein the said carriage is sustained by the support, fixedlysecured to the tool holding arm, said carriage being capable ofdisplacing axially relative to the support itself due to the action of aworm gear, rotated via a handwheel, whilst the aforesaid copying rolleris sustained by the arm, oscillating on two levers, and is maintained incontact with the basic template of a big spring.
 7. Machine as definedin claim 1, wherein the copying roller-tool holding arm assembly issustained and driven by two big springs, which are fastened on the lowerpart to two levers, connected therebetween by a rod, which levers arecontrolled by pneumatic cylinder.
 8. Machine as defined in claim 1,wherein the tool applied to the specially provided arm may consist of acutter, or an abrasive band or a brush, the motion being transmitted tosaid tool by a motor via a belt.